Complimentary Financial Literacy Resources for Adults
(Resources for All Socioeconomic Levels: Low, Middle, & High)
Every adult has a unique financial situation and goals. No matter the starting point or the vision ahead, there are practical strategies that help adult learners make measurable progress toward their objectives.
We provide free adult financial education resources for individuals and organizations. The process begins with an assessment of current finances and goals, moves to a clear plan for accomplishing that vision, and then empowers learners with the knowledge, systems, and tools needed to follow the plan.
These materials also highlight behaviors that can derail progress and offer simple, evidence-based methods to keep learners on track – from habit design and budgeting systems to referrals for additional support – so adults can steadily move toward their financial and lifestyle goals.
Adult Financial Standards & Learning Outcomes Guide
The adult financial education standards prepare people for the consequential financial choices they face throughout independent living and adulthood. Content is deeper and more applied than foundational coursework, and instruction emphasizes transfer, critical thinking, and long-term planning. NFEC organizes learning into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels so educators, coaches, and program designers can match lessons to learners’ prior knowledge, numeracy, and current life stage.
Behavioral finance and financial psychology are woven throughout the guide so learners understand how cognitive biases, social norms, and emotions shape decisions. Pedagogy favors active, experiential methods – simulations, real-world projects, employer or community partnerships, personalized coaching, and scaffolded assignments that culminate in capstone demonstrations of competence.
Timing and relevance are critical: deliver modules when learners confront real decisions – starting a first job (benefits, payroll, withholding), forming a household (budgeting, joint finances), applying for mortgages or rental agreements, financing higher education or career training, navigating career transitions, or planning for retirement. Taught at the right moment, with appropriate rigor and practical assessment, adult financial education becomes a durable foundation for lifelong financial capability and greater economic confidence.
Fundamentals of Budgeting Workshop
This course introduces the basic aspects of budgeting and how budgeting benefits your progress toward attaining your desired lifestyle and reaching your financial goals. You will be introduced to the three primary types of expenses and tactics for reducing monthly payments toward those expenses. Action steps for creating a solid budget and automating financial accounting systems to facilitate regular review and revisions are provided.
